A Message That Turned the World Upside Down — Acts 15:36–17:34 | Video Devotion with Dave Miers
Nov 9, 2026 27414
Throughout history, there are inventions that have turned the world upside down. Electricity. The motor car. And sliced bread!
In my own lifetime, it’s been the way we listen to music. I remember listening to my parents’ records. But then as a primary school kid, I got a Walkman. It was revolutionary to have music in your pocket! Then, in high school, the Discman; then the iPod; and now streaming: millions of songs at our fingertips. Each step changed the world.
This week in Acts, we see the world turned upside down by the proclamation of a message.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
How the Gospel Turned the World Upside Down
We’re in Acts 15:36 to the end of chapter 17.
Here’s a quick highlights reel of the end of chapter 15 through to the start of chapter 17.
Paul and Barnabas part ways. Paul takes Silas, and later Timothy joins the team (Acts 15:36-16:5). Then the Holy Spirit calls them across to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). That’s huge. The gospel now heads into Europe for the first time.
Just as Jesus promised in Acts 1:8, his witnesses are heading to the ends of the earth.
In Philippi, the Lord opens Lydia’s heart, a slave girl is freed, and a tough Roman jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:11-34). These are three very different conversions that show, according to John Stott, the gospel breaking down every barrier.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
In Thessalonica, some believe, but others form a mob. Listen to how they describe the missionaries.
Acts 17:6–7
[6] And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, [7] and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” (ESV)
It was a charge of treason. But in one sense, they were right. Caesar is not king. Jesus is King.
That ought to be the goal of every Christian: to be part of turning the world upside down. Or really, turning it the right way up, as we help people see who the true King is.
So what does that look like up close? Luke slows right down when Paul reaches Athens (Acts 17:16-34). There are three things I want you to notice.
1/ What Paul Saw
Athens was a brilliant city of art, history, and philosophy. But that’s not what Paul focuses on.
Acts 17:16
[16] Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. (ESV)
What does Paul see? A city “smothered with idols,” as John Stott puts it. Paul looks with gospel eyes. Where others see beauty, he sees bondage. Where others see temples, he sees idolatry.
And what Paul sees shapes how he feels. “Provoked” is the word the Greek Old Testament uses for the Lord’s response to the golden calf (see Deuteronomy 9; Exodus 32). The Lord is jealous for his people because he loves them.
Paul is jealous for Jesus’ glory, and full of compassion for people who don’t know the true and living God. Paul knows him. He met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, and his own life was turned the right way up.
What Paul sees and feels then leads to action.
2/ What Paul Said
Acts 17:17
[17] So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. (ESV)
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers mock him as a “babbler” (Acts 17:18). But the mockery leads to a microphone: an invitation to the Areopagus, where Athenians debated ideas.
Acts 17:22–23
[22] So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. [23] For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. (ESV)
Paul doesn’t come in all guns blazing. He starts with what he’s observed. If he were here in Brisbane where I live, he might say, “As I drove your streets and scrolled your feeds, I saw the objects of your worship.”
Shopping centres like temples.
Gym routines like daily liturgies.
The centre of worship: Suncorp Stadium!
Brisbane is full of altars, and like Athens, they point to a deeper longing. We want meaning. We want there to be more.
So Paul makes the unknown God known. He is the Creator, the Sustainer who gives us life and breath, and the Ruler of the nations. He’s not far from any of us (Acts 17:24-29). We don’t need to make him. He made us.
And through Paul’s words, God himself is at work.
3/ What God Does
Acts 17:30–31
[30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (ESV)
God is the Judge. He calls us to turn from our idols to the living God, and the resurrection of Jesus is his proof that the day is coming.
Some mock, some want to hear more, and some believe (Acts 17:32-34). As his word is taught, God keeps saving people. For a city of close to three million people, I’ve got a hunch Jesus has many more people to save in Brisbane, and probably where you live, too.
The Good News is…
The King who turns the world the right way up is the King who died and rose again. Through his perfect life, sacrificial death in our place, and triumphant resurrection, Jesus saves sinners. Trust him, and you can be forgiven and brought back to God. This is the message that turned the world upside down, and it’s still turning lives the right way up today.
Like and share so others can see Jesus clearly.
Further reading: Acts 15:36-17:34
Reflection
What altars do you see in your city, and who could you point to Jesus this week?
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited